DP-300 Plan and implement data platform resources Practice Question
A company has an Azure SQL Managed Instance that is experiencing high CPU usage. The DBA observes that a specific query is causing high compile time due to parameter sniffing. The query is executed frequently with varying parameter values. Which approach should the DBA use to reduce CPU usage without changing the T-SQL code?
⚠ Common exam trap
Watch out — candidates often confuse 'forced parameterization' with 'plan guides' or 'Query Store forcing,' not realizing that forced parameterization directly reduces compile time by enabling plan reuse, while the other options only manage plan selection without addressing the root cause of frequent recompilations.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Enable forced parameterization for the database
Forced parameterization (Option D) converts literal values in the query to parameters, allowing SQL Server to reuse cached execution plans across different parameter values. This reduces CPU usage by eliminating frequent recompilations caused by parameter sniffing, without requiring any changes to the T-SQL code itself.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Create a plan guide to force a specific plan
Why it's wrong here
Plan guides require modifying the query or creating an object, which is changing T-SQL.
- ✗
Use optimize for ad hoc workloads
Why it's wrong here
This reduces plan cache bloat but doesn't address parameter sniffing.
- ✗
Add query store and force the last good plan
Why it's wrong here
Query store doesn't prevent parameter sniffing; it only captures plans.
- ✓
Enable forced parameterization for the database
Why this is correct
Forced parameterization treats literals as parameters, reducing recompilations.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Overview of Azure Data Platform Options
Key term
Azure SQL Managed Instance
Azure SQL Managed Instance is a fully managed cloud database service that gives you nearly all the features of Microsoft SQL Server on your own server, without you having to manage the hardware or operating system.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This DP-300 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Microsoft certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the DP-300 exam.